Abstract

After the September 11^th attacks on the World Trade Centre in 2001, the United States reacted by enacting legislation, that was hoped would fight terrorism. The events of September 11 not only caused great distress and shock to many people but the reverberations across the world caused panic. The threat of terrorism has mainly come from small groups of people regarded as “extremists” or “fanatics” pursuing political, ideological and social goals. Few of us will forget the horrific pictures of the Twin Towers collapsing amidst the dust and carnage or the grotesque television images and telephone conversations on board the doomed aircraft. So began ‘The war on terror’ and the challenge for western democracy who now have the unenviable responsibility to safeguard national security and liberty. It does appear that counter terror policy has become instinctive and not well though out. This article will examine the changes faced by the new Terrorism Act with the notion of civil liberties and innocence.

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